Battery control device and short circuit detection method thereof

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a battery control device and a short circuit detection method thereof. The battery control device may include: a first battery control unit connected between an external load and a first battery module, and configured to control the electrical connection between the external load and the first battery module. The first battery control unit may include: a first switch electrically connected between the positive terminal of the first battery module and the external load; a second switch electrically connected between the negative terminal of the first battery module and the external load; and a first controller configured to control the opening / closing of the first switch and the second switch. The first controller may detect a short circuit accident between the external load and the first battery control unit based on the voltage between the two ends of the first switch detected when the second switch is in a closed state and the first switch is in an open state.

Description

[0001] This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2020-0127323 filed on September 29, 2020, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a battery control device and a short circuit detection method thereof, and more particularly, to a battery control device and a short circuit detection method thereof that can detect short circuit accidents caused by misconnection or the like. Background Art

[0003] An energy storage system (ESS) installed in a container or a building is a facility that instantly charges / discharges a large amount of electricity. Since such an ESS is a facility that handles a large capacity of electricity, when it is applied, it is necessary to ensure safety from installation to operation. Specifically, even when the cables of the power conditioning system are misconnected due to human error during the installation of the ESS, various protection functions should be implemented to prevent accidents such as electric shock, short circuit, and fire.

[0004] Typical protection functions may include a misconnection monitoring function. Generally, the misconnection monitoring function may be performed in the following two ways.

[0005] The first method is a method in which, after completing the installation of the facility, the manager checks the resistance value of the installed cable with a resistance measuring instrument to check whether a closed circuit is formed, and then when the closed circuit is confirmed, determines that a misconnection has occurred, thereby rebuilding the facility. In the method, there is a possibility that human error may occur in the process of the manager checking whether there is a misconnection with the resistance measuring instrument.

[0006] The second method is a method in which a fuse is installed in a control box to protect a battery from a short circuit accident caused by misconnection of a cable, and when a short circuit accident occurs due to a closed circuit formation during system operation, the fuse blocks a short circuit current to protect the system. In the method, since it is a method of determining whether a short circuit exists based on whether the fuse is blown in a state in which the system is actually operated, various problems may occur.

[0007] For example, when a fuse blows, a lot of time and money are consumed to find the cause of the blown fuse. The fuse may blow due to various accidents that cause short-circuit current. However, the fuse itself has only a function of blocking the short-circuit current, and therefore does not provide any function for checking the cause of the short-circuit current. The check of the cause of the short-circuit current is performed in a manner in which an operator directly checks all possible conditions for the occurrence of the short-circuit current to eliminate the fault.

[0008] As another example, since occurrence of a short circuit current is detected while the system is operating, when melting of a fuse is delayed under a short circuit condition, the system is exposed to a high short circuit current for a predetermined time, and thus accidents such as component damage, explosion, and insulation breakdown may occur.

[0009] As another example, in order to identify the cause of a blown fuse and restart the system, restoration costs such as the cost of replacing materials to replace the blown fuse are required.

[0010] The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art. Summary of the invention

[0011] The present invention has made an effort to provide a battery control device and a short circuit detection method thereof, which can accurately detect whether a short circuit occurs due to misconnection or the like before operating a battery system.

[0012] An embodiment of the present invention provides a battery control device, which includes: a first battery control unit connected between an external load and a first battery module, and configured to control the electrical connection between the external load and the first battery module. The first battery control unit may include: a first switch electrically connected between the positive terminal of the first battery module and the external load; a second switch electrically connected between the negative terminal of the first battery module and the external load; and a first controller configured to control the opening / closing of the first switch and the second switch. The first controller may detect a short circuit accident between the external load and the first battery control unit based on the voltage between the two ends of the first switch detected when the second switch is in a closed state and the first switch is in an open state.

[0013] The battery control device may further include a connection device connected between the first battery control unit and the external load. The connection device may include: a first main switch electrically connected between the first switch and a first terminal of the external load; and a second main switch electrically connected between the second switch and a second terminal of the external load.

[0014] When the first main switch, the second main switch and the first switch are in an open state and the second switch is in a closed state, the first controller can detect the voltage between the two ends of the first switch, and can detect a short circuit accident between the first battery control unit and the connecting device based on the voltage between the two ends of the first switch.

[0015] When the first main switch, the second main switch and the second switch are in a closed state and the first switch is in an open state, the first controller can detect the voltage between the two ends of the first switch, and can detect a short circuit accident between the connecting device and the external load based on the voltage between the two ends of the first switch.

[0016] The battery control device may further include a second battery control unit connected between the second battery module and the connection device to control the electrical connection between the second battery module and the first main switch and the second main switch. The second battery control unit may include: a third switch electrically connected between the positive terminal of the second battery module and the first main switch; a fourth switch electrically connected between the negative terminal of the second battery module and the second main switch; and a second controller configured to control the opening / closing of the third switch and the fourth switch.

[0017] When the first main switch, the second main switch and the third switch are in the open state and the fourth switch is in the closed state, the second controller can detect the voltage between the two ends of the third switch, and can detect a short circuit accident between the second battery control unit and the connecting device based on the voltage between the two ends of the third switch.

[0018] The second controller may control the third switch and the fourth switch to be in an open state while the first controller detects a short circuit accident, and the first controller may control the first switch and the second switch to be in an open state while the second controller detects a short circuit accident.

[0019] Another embodiment of the present invention provides a battery control device, the battery control device comprising: a connection device connected between a plurality of battery modules and an external load, and comprising a first main switch electrically connected between the positive terminals of the plurality of battery modules and the external load and a second main switch electrically connected between the negative terminals of the plurality of battery modules and the external load; a plurality of battery control units respectively connected to the plurality of battery modules and configured to control the electrical connection between the plurality of battery modules and the first main switch and the second main switch; and a main controller configured to control the opening / closing of the first main switch and the second main switch. One of the plurality of battery control units may include: a first switch connected between the positive terminal of the corresponding battery module and the first main switch; a second switch connected between the negative terminal of the corresponding battery module and the second main switch; and a controller configured to control the opening / closing of the first switch and the second switch. When the first main switch, the second main switch and the second switch are in a closed state and the first switch is in an open state, the controller may detect the voltage between the two ends of the first switch, and may detect a short circuit accident based on the detected voltage.

[0020] When the detected voltage is greater than 0V, the controller can determine that a short circuit accident has occurred.

[0021] In a state in which a control signal indicating switching to a closed state is output to the first main switch and the second main switch, the main controller can detect the actual open / closed state of the first main switch and the second main switch, and when the actual open / closed state of the first main switch or the second main switch is an open state, the main controller can determine that the first main switch or the second main switch is in a fault state.

[0022] When both the first main switch and the second main switch are in a normal state, the controller may detect a short circuit accident according to a voltage between both ends of the first switch.

[0023] When at least one of the first main switch and the second main switch is in a fault state, the main controller may disconnect the first main switch and the second main switch.

[0024] When a short circuit accident is detected, the controller may transmit a status signal notifying the occurrence of the short circuit accident to the main controller, and when receiving the status signal notifying the occurrence of the short circuit, the main controller may disconnect the first main switch and the second main switch.

[0025] Another embodiment of the present invention provides a short circuit detection method for a battery control device, the short circuit detection method comprising the following steps: controlling a first main switch and a second main switch to be in a closed state, the first main switch being electrically connected between the positive terminals of a plurality of battery modules and an external load, and the second main switch being electrically connected between the negative terminals of the plurality of battery modules and an external load; in a first battery control unit that controls the electrical connection between a first battery module among the plurality of battery modules and the first main switch and the second main switch, controlling the second switch connected between the negative terminal of the first battery module and the second main switch to be in a closed state; in a disconnected state of the first switch connected between the positive terminal of the first battery module and the first main switch, detecting the voltage between the two ends of the first switch; and detecting a first short circuit accident between the first battery control unit and the external load based on the detected voltage between the two ends of the first switch.

[0026] The short circuit detection method may further include the following steps: after controlling the first main switch and the second main switch to be in a closed state, detecting an actual open / closed state of the first main switch and the second main switch; when the detected actual open / closed state of the first main switch or the second main switch indicates an open state, determining that the first main switch or the second main switch is in a fault state; and when the first main switch or the second main switch is in a fault state, controlling the first main switch and the second main switch to be in an open state.

[0027] When the first main switch and the second main switch are in a normal state, the step of detecting a voltage between both ends of the first switch and the step of detecting a first short circuit accident may be performed.

[0028] The short circuit detection method may further include the following steps: when a first short circuit accident is detected, controlling the first main switch and the second main switch to be in an open state; and controlling the second switch to be in an open state.

[0029] The short circuit detection method may further include the following steps: before the step of controlling the first main switch and the second main switch to be in a closed state, keeping the first main switch and the second main switch in an open state; and for each of the plurality of battery control units that respectively control the electrical connection between the plurality of battery modules and the first main switch and the second main switch, detecting a second short circuit accident between the corresponding battery control unit in the plurality of battery control units and the first main switch and the second main switch. The step of detecting a second short circuit accident between the corresponding battery control unit and the first main switch and the second main switch may include the following steps: controlling a fourth switch connected between the negative terminal of the corresponding battery module in the plurality of battery modules and the second main switch to be in a closed state; in the open state of the third switch connected between the positive terminal of the corresponding battery module and the first main switch, detecting a voltage between the two ends of the third switch; and detecting a second short circuit accident between the corresponding battery control unit and the first main switch and the second main switch according to the voltage between the two ends of the detected third switch.

[0030] When the second short circuit accident is not detected for all of the plurality of battery control units, the step of detecting the voltage between both ends of the first switch and the step of detecting the first short circuit accident may be performed.

[0031] The first short circuit accident may be a short circuit accident between the first main switch and the second main switch and the external load.

[0032] According to the embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to accurately detect whether a short circuit occurs due to misconnection or the like before operating the battery system. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] Figure 1 A battery system according to an embodiment of the present invention is schematically shown.

[0034] Figure 2A and Figure 2B Include it in Figure 1 A situation where a short circuit accident occurs in a battery system is shown as an example.

[0035] Figure 3 A short circuit detection method for a battery system according to an embodiment of the present invention is schematically illustrated.

[0036] Figure 4 A battery system according to another embodiment of the present invention is schematically shown.

[0037] Figure 5A and Figure 5BAmong them due to Figure 4 A case where a short circuit accident occurs due to misconnection in a battery system is shown as an example.

[0038] Fig. 6A and Figure 6B A short circuit detection method for a battery system according to another embodiment of the present invention is schematically illustrated. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The effects and characteristics of the embodiments and their implementation methods will now be described in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the accompanying drawings, the same reference numerals represent the same constituent elements, and their repeated description will not be provided. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the described embodiments may be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Embodiments are provided as examples so that this disclosure may be thorough and complete, and aspects and characteristics of the present invention will be fully provided to those skilled in the art.

[0040] Therefore, for the purpose of fully understanding the aspects and features of the present invention, processes, factors, and skills that may not be necessary for those of ordinary skill in the art may not be described. In the drawings, relative sizes of elements, layers, and regions may be exaggerated for clarity.

[0041] In this specification, the term "and / or" includes all combinations or random combinations of multiple items that are related and arranged. When describing the embodiments of the present invention, the use of "may (may)" means "at least one embodiment of the present invention". With regard to the description of the embodiments of the present invention, unless stated otherwise, a singular term may include a plural form.

[0042] The terms including ordinal numbers such as first, second, etc. will only be used to describe various components and will not be interpreted as limiting these components. The terms are only used to distinguish one component from other components. For example, without departing from the scope of the present invention, the first constituent element can be named as the second constituent element, and similarly, the second constituent element can be named as the first constituent element.

[0043] Electrically connecting two constituent elements includes directly connecting the two constituent elements and connecting the two constituent elements with another constituent element between the two constituent elements. Another constituent element may include a switch, a resistor, and a capacitor. When describing an embodiment, when the expression of direct connection is not provided, the expression of connection represents electrical connection.

[0044] Figure 1 A battery system according to an embodiment of the present invention is schematically shown.

[0045] Reference Figure 1, a battery system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a battery module 11 and a battery control device 12 .

[0046] The battery module 11 may include a plurality of battery cells 111 electrically connected to each other in series or in parallel.

[0047] The battery control device 12 can detect status information such as voltage, current, and temperature of the battery module 11, and can control the connection between the battery module 11 and an external device (load 20 or charging device (not shown)) based on the status information. To this end, the battery control device 12 may include a plurality of switches SW11 and SW12 and a controller 121.

[0048] The switches SW11 and SW12 can be connected between the system terminals P+ and P- electrically connected to the load 20 or the charging device and the two terminals B+ and B- of the battery module 11, respectively, to electrically connect the battery module 11 to the system terminals P+ and P- or to block the electrical connection between the battery module 11 and the system terminals P+ and P-. For example, the switch SW11 can be electrically connected between the positive terminal B+ of the battery module 11 and the system terminal P+, and the switch SW12 can be connected between the negative terminal B- of the battery module 11 and the system terminal P-. These switches SW11 and SW12 can be relays, contactors, etc. In addition, the switches SW11 and SW12 can also be field effect switches (FETs), solid-state switches (SSSs), etc.

[0049] In order to monitor the state of the battery module 11, the controller 121 may acquire state information such as voltage, current, and temperature related to the state of the battery module 11. In addition, the controller 121 detects an overcharge or overdischarge state of the battery module 11 based on the state information of the battery module 11, and the controller 121 may control the opening / closing (or conduction) of the switches SW11 and SW12 based on the detected overcharge or overdischarge results.

[0050] In addition, a function of detecting a short circuit between the controller 121 and the system terminals P+ and P- may be performed. In this embodiment, the short circuit condition to be detected by the controller 121 is caused by an abnormal short circuit accident that can be distinguished from a normal short circuit condition. When the switch SW12 is in a closed state (or a conducting state) and the switch SW11 is in an open state (or a non-conducting state), the controller 121 may detect the voltages V11 and V12 at each end of the switch SW11. In addition, when the voltages V11 and V12 at each end of the switch SW11 calculated by it are greater than 0V, the controller 121 may determine that a short circuit has occurred between the system terminals P+ and P-.

[0051] Figure 2A and Figure 2BA case is shown in which a short circuit occurs outside the battery system 10 (ie, between the system terminals P+ and P−). Figure 2A A case where the system terminals P+ and P− are short-circuited to each other due to misconnection between the system terminals P+ and P− and the load 20 and a case where there is a short circuit between the system terminals P+ and P− are shown as examples. Figure 2B An example is shown in which the system terminals P+ and P- are short-circuited to each other due to a short circuit within the load 20. Figure 2A and Figure 2B , when the switch SW12 is closed while the system terminals P+ and P- are short-circuited to each other, the system terminal P+ is electrically connected to the negative terminal of the battery module 11. Therefore, one end of the switch SW11 is connected to the positive terminal of the battery module 11, and the other end of the switch SW11 is connected to the negative terminal of the battery module 11, so that the voltage between the two ends of the switch SW11 can be the output voltage of the battery module 11, that is, a voltage greater than 0V.

[0052] On the other hand, when the switch SW12 is closed in a state in which the system terminals P+ and P- are not short-circuited to each other, the system terminal P+ is in a floating state, whereby one end of the switch SW11 is connected to the positive terminal of the battery module 11, and the other end of the switch SW11 is in a floating state. In this state, the voltage measurement circuit (not shown) within the controller 121 can detect the voltage between the two ends of the switch SW11 as 0V, or determine that the voltage between the two ends of the switch SW11 is in an unmeasurable state. Therefore, in a state in which the switch SW12 is closed to detect a short circuit, when the voltage between the two ends of the switch SW11 in the open state is detected as 0V or is detected as unmeasurable, the controller 121 can determine a normal state in which no short circuit occurs between the system terminals P+ and P-.

[0053] The controller 121 performs the above-mentioned short circuit state detection function before operating the battery system 10, and when a short circuit is detected by this, the controller 121 can control the switches SW11 and SW12 to be in a disconnected state to output a fault alarm, or can transmit a state signal warning this to an upper system (not shown). On the other hand, when a short circuit state is not detected, the controller 121 determines that normal operation of the battery system 10 is possible, and allows the switches SW11 and SW12 to be closed.

[0054] The battery control device 12 may also include at least one fuse to protect the battery module 11 from overcurrent. Figure 1 The battery control device 12 may further include a fuse F11 connected between the positive terminal of the battery module 11 and the system terminal P+ and a fuse F12 connected between the negative terminal of the battery module 11 and the system terminal P−.

[0055] Figure 3 A short circuit detection method for a battery system according to an embodiment of the present invention is schematically illustrated. Figure 3 The method can be referred to by Figure 1 The battery control device 12 of the battery system 10 described is implemented.

[0056] Reference Figure 3 Before operating the battery system 10, the battery control device 12 controls the switch SW12 to be in a closed state through the controller 121 to detect a short circuit condition of the system terminals P+ and P-, that is, a short circuit condition outside the battery system 10 (S30). Since the switches SW11 and SW12 are in an open state before starting the battery system 10, when the switch SW12 is closed, the switch SW11 remains in an open state. In this state, the controller 121 of the battery control device 12 detects the voltage between both ends of the switch SW11 in the open state (S31).

[0057] When the voltage between both ends of the switch SW11 detected by step S31 is greater than 0V (S32), the controller 121 determines that a short circuit occurs outside the battery system 10 (ie, the system terminals P+ and P- are short-circuited to form a closed circuit) (S33).

[0058] When a short circuit condition is detected, the controller 121 controls both switches SW11 and SW12 to be in an open state (S34). In addition, the controller 121 may output a fault alarm to an upper system or transmit a status signal warning that a short circuit has occurred to the upper system.

[0059] Meanwhile, when the voltage between both ends of the switch SW11 is not greater than 0V in step S32, that is, when it is 0V or an unmeasurable state, the controller 121 determines that a short circuit has not occurred between the system terminals P+ and P- of the battery system 10 (S35). When it is determined that a short circuit has not occurred, the controller 121 determines that normal operation of the battery system 10 is possible, and allows connection between the battery system 10 and the load 20 (S36). That is, the switches SW11 and SW12 are allowed to be switched to be in a closed state.

[0060] Meanwhile, in the above-described embodiment, the battery system 10 including one battery module 11 is shown as an example, but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto. Even when the battery system 10 includes a plurality of battery modules, the main technical features of the present invention are applicable.

[0061] Figure 4 A battery system according to another embodiment of the present invention is schematically shown, wherein the battery system includes a plurality of battery modules connected in parallel with each other. Figure 4In the embodiment, the battery system 40 may correspond to an energy storage system (ESS), and the load 50 connected to the battery system 40 may correspond to a power conditioning system (PCS). The power conditioning system 50 is a system that converts DC power supplied from the energy storage system 40 into AC power to supply it to power consumables, and the power conditioning system 50 may include a plurality of switches SW51 and SW52, a smoothing capacitor C, and an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) 51.

[0062] Reference Figure 4 According to another embodiment of the present invention, a battery system 40 may include a plurality of battery modules 41 and a battery control device for controlling the connection between the plurality of battery modules 41 and a load 50. The battery control device may include a plurality of battery control units 42, a main controller 43, and a connection device 44, wherein the plurality of battery control units 42 are connected to the plurality of battery modules 41 to control the connection for each battery module 41, and the connection device 44 is connected between the plurality of battery control units 42 and the load 50 to control the connection between the battery system 40 and the load 50.

[0063] The battery module 41 may include a plurality of battery cells 411 electrically connected to each other in series or in parallel.

[0064] The battery control unit 42 can detect status information such as voltage, current and temperature of the corresponding battery module 41, and can control the connection between the corresponding battery module 41 and the connection device 44 based on this. To this end, the battery control unit 42 may include a plurality of switches SW41 and SW42 and a controller 421.

[0065] The switches SW41 and SW42 can be connected between the system terminals P+ and P- and the two terminals B+ and B- of the battery module 41, respectively, to electrically connect the battery module 41 to the system terminals P+ and P- or to block the electrical connection between the battery module 41 and the system terminals P+ and P-. For example, the switch SW41 can be electrically connected between the positive terminal B+ of the battery module 41 and the system terminal P+, and the switch SW42 can be connected between the negative terminal B- of the battery module 41 and the system terminal P-. These switches SW41 and SW42 can be relays, contactors, etc. In addition, the switches SW41 and SW42 can be FETs, SSS, etc.

[0066] In order to monitor the state of the battery module 41, the controller 421 may acquire state information such as voltage, current, and temperature related to the state of the battery module 41. In addition, the controller 421 detects an overcharge or overdischarge state of the battery module 41 based on the state information of the battery module 41, and the controller 421 may control the opening / closing of the switches SW41 and SW42 based on the detected overcharge or overdischarge results.

[0067] Each battery control unit 42 may also include at least one fuse to protect the corresponding battery module 41 from overcurrent. Figure 4 Each battery control unit 42 may also include a fuse F41 connected between the positive terminal of the corresponding battery module 41 and the system terminal P+ and a fuse F42 connected between the negative terminal of the corresponding battery module 41 and the system terminal P-.

[0068] The connection device 44 may be provided between the plurality of battery control units 42 and the load 50 to block or allow connection between the plurality of battery control units 42 and the load 50. To this end, the connection device 44 may include a plurality of input terminals PI and NI, a plurality of output terminals PO and NO, and a plurality of main switches MSW41 and MSW42 each connected between the plurality of input terminals PI and NI and the plurality of output terminals PO and NO.

[0069] The system terminal P+ of the battery control unit 42 can be electrically connected to the positive input terminal PI, and the system terminal P- of the battery control unit 42 can be electrically connected to the negative input terminal NI. The positive output terminal PO can be electrically connected to the positive connector T+ of the load 50, and the negative output terminal NO can be electrically connected to the negative connector T- of the load 50. The connecting device 44 is a connecting device with a single pole and multiple lines for constructing electrical connections between devices (battery control unit 42 and load 50), and the wiring connected to each input terminal PI and NI and each output terminal PO and NO is electrically connected to each other through the corresponding connectors. Therefore, multiple battery modules 41 can be connected in parallel to each other through the connecting device 44.

[0070] The main switch MSW41 may be connected between the positive input terminal PI and the positive output terminal PO to electrically connect the positive input terminal PI with the positive output terminal PO or to block the connection between the positive input terminal PI and the positive output terminal PO. The main switch MSW42 may be connected between the negative input terminal NI and the negative output terminal NO to electrically connect the negative input terminal NI with the negative output terminal NO or to block the connection between the negative input terminal NI and the negative output terminal NO. The opening / closing (or conduction) of these main switches MSW41 and MSW42 may be controlled by a control signal input from the main controller 43.

[0071] The main controller 43 may control the opening / closing of the main switches MSW41 and MSW42 included in the connection device 44 to control the connection between the battery control unit 42 and the load 50. That is, the main controller 43 may control the connection between the battery system 40 and the load 50 by controlling the opening / closing of the main switches MSW41 and MSW42 to control the supply of power from the battery system 40 to the load 50.

[0072] The main controller 43 may detect the actual open / closed state of the main switches MSW41 and MSW42. The main controller 43 may compare the control signal output by the main controller 43 to the main switches MSW41 and MSW42 with the actual open / closed state of the corresponding main switches MSW41 and MSW42 to detect whether the main switches MSW41 and MSW42 are in a fault state. That is, when the open / closed state indicated by the control signal output to the main switches MSW41 and MSW42 is different from the actual open / closed state of the main switches MSW41 and MSW42, the main controller 43 may determine that the main switches MSW41 and MSW42 are in a fault state.

[0073] The main controller 43 may communicate with the controller 421 of each battery control unit 42. The main controller 43 may receive the state information of the corresponding battery module 41 or the open / closed state information of the corresponding switches SW41 and SW42 from the controller 421 of each battery control unit 42 through communication. In addition, the main controller 43 may transmit the open / closed state information of the main switches MSW41 and MSW42 to the controller 421 of each battery control unit 42.

[0074] At the same time, the battery control unit 42 can be Figure 1 The function of detecting a short circuit state between the system terminals P+ and P- due to misconnection, etc. is performed in a similar manner to the battery control device 12. Even in this embodiment, the short circuit state detected by the battery control unit 42 is due to an abnormal short circuit accident and can be distinguished from a normal short circuit state. When the switch SW42 is in a closed state (or a conducting state) and the switch SW41 is in an open state (or a non-conducting state), the voltages V41 and V42 at both ends of the switch SW41 are detected, and when the detected voltages V41 and V42 at both ends of the switch SW41 are greater than 0V, the controller 421 can determine that a short circuit has occurred between the system terminals P+ and P-.

[0075] Figure 5A and Figure 5B It shows that due to Figure 4 A short circuit occurs between the system terminals P+ and P- due to misconnection in the battery system 40. Figure 5AA situation is shown in which the system terminals P+ and P− are short-circuited to each other due to a misconnection at the level of the battery control unit 42 , ie, a misconnection between the battery control unit 42 and the connection device 44 . Figure 5B A situation is shown in which the system terminals P+ and P− are short-circuited to each other due to a misconnection at the level of the battery system 40 , ie a misconnection between the connection device 44 and the load 50 .

[0076] Reference Figure 5A , the wiring NL41 between the system terminal P- of the battery control unit 42-1 and the connecting device 44 is misconnected, so that the system terminals P+ and P- of the battery control unit 42-1 are all connected to the positive input terminal PI of the connecting device 44. Therefore, when the system terminals P+ and P- of the battery control unit 42-1 are short-circuited to each other and the switches SW41 and SW42 of the battery control unit 42-1 are closed, a short-circuit current I short .

[0077] Reference Figure 5B , one of the wirings connected to the positive output terminal PO of the connection device 44 is mistakenly connected to the negative terminal T- of the load 50 instead of the positive terminal T+, and one of the wirings connected to the negative output terminal NO is mistakenly connected to the positive terminal T+ of the load 50. Therefore, when the output terminals PO and NO of the connection device 44 are short-circuited to each other so that the switches SW41 and SW42 and the main switches MSW41 and MSW42 of the battery control unit 42 are closed, a short-circuit current I short .

[0078] like Figure 5A As shown in , when a short circuit occurs between the battery control unit 42-1 and the connection device 44 due to misconnection, etc., the corresponding battery control unit 42-1 can detect the occurrence of the short circuit by executing the above-mentioned short circuit detection function, regardless of the open / closed state of the main switches MSW41 and MSW42. That is, the controller 421 of the corresponding battery control unit 42-1 can measure the voltages V41 and V42 at both ends of the switch SW41 in the open state according to the closed state of the switch SW42, thereby detecting the occurrence of the short circuit between the system terminals P+ and P-.

[0079] like Figure 5BAs shown in , when a short circuit occurs between the connection device 44 and the load 50 due to misconnection, the battery control unit 42 can detect the occurrence of the short circuit by performing the above-mentioned short circuit detection function only when all of the main switches MSW41 and MSW42 of the connection device 44 are closed. That is, while all of the main switches MSW41 and MSW42 are closed, the controller 421 of the battery control unit 42 controls the switch SW42 to be in a closed state, and in this state, the controller 421 of the battery control unit 42 can detect the short circuit between the system terminals P+ and P- by measuring the voltages V41 and V42 at both ends of the switch SW41 in the open state.

[0080] Therefore, in this embodiment, in order to distinguish whether a short circuit occurs between the battery control unit 42 and the connection device 44 or between the connection device 44 and the load 50, the connection state between the battery control unit 42 and the connection device 44 is first checked, that is, the short circuit occurs between the battery control unit 42 and the connection device 44, by sequentially performing the short circuit state detection function for each battery control unit 42 in the disconnected state of all the main switches MSW41 and MSW42. In addition, after confirming that all the connection states between the battery control unit 42 and the connection device 44 are normal, both the main switches MSW41 and MSW42 are closed, and in this state, the connection state between the connection device 44 and the load 50 can be checked by performing the above-mentioned short circuit detection function in one of the battery control units 42.

[0081] The battery control unit 42 performs the above-mentioned short circuit state detection function before operating the battery system 40, and when a short circuit is detected by this, the battery control unit 42 can control the switches SW41 and SW42 to be in an open state to transmit a state signal warning this to the main controller 43. On the other hand, when a short circuit state is not detected, the battery control unit 42 determines that normal operation of the battery system 40 is possible, and allows the switches SW41 and SW42 to be closed. In addition, a state signal notifying that the connection between the battery control unit 42 and the connection device 44 and the connection between the connection device 44 and the load 50 are in a normal state can be transmitted to the main controller 43.

[0082] When the main controller 43 receives a status signal indicating that a short circuit has occurred from at least one battery control unit 42, the main controller 43 can separate the battery system 40 from the load 50 by controlling the main switches MSW41 and MSW42 to be in a disconnected state. In addition, the main controller 43 can output a fault alarm or notify a higher-level system (not shown) or an administrator terminal (not shown) of the occurrence of a fault. On the other hand, when a status signal indicating that the state of connection between all battery control units 42 and the connection device 44 and the state of connection between the connection device 44 and the load 50 are normal is received, the main controller 43 determines that normal operation of the battery system 40 is possible, and allows the main switches MSW41 and MSW42 to be closed.

[0083] Fig. 6A and Figure 6B A short circuit detection method for a battery system according to another embodiment of the present invention is schematically illustrated. Fig. 6A and Figure 6B The method can be referred to by Figure 4 The described battery system 40 is implemented by a battery control device.

[0084] Reference Fig. 6A In order to detect a short circuit in the battery control unit 42 level before operating the battery system 40, the battery control device keeps the main switches MSW41 and MSW42 in a disconnected state (S60), and in this state, the battery control device sequentially performs short circuit detection for each battery control unit 42 (S61).

[0085] Figure 6B Specifically shown is a method of performing short-circuit detection at the battery control unit 42 level in each battery control unit 42 in step S61 .

[0086] Reference Figure 6B , each battery control unit 42 controls the switch SW42 to be in a closed state through the controller 421 to detect the occurrence of a short circuit between the battery control unit 42 and the connecting device 44 (S610). In this case, the switch SW41 of the corresponding battery control unit 42 remains in an open state, and the controller 421 detects the voltage between both ends of the switch SW41 in the open state (S611).

[0087] When the voltage between both ends of the switch SW41 detected by step S611 is greater than 0V (S612), the controller 421 determines that the system terminals P+ and P- are short-circuited to each other (S613) due to a short circuit between the corresponding battery control unit 42 and the connection device 44. When a short circuit is detected, the controller 421 can transmit a status signal indicating that a short circuit has occurred between the corresponding battery control unit 42 and the connection device 44 to the main controller 43.

[0088] Meanwhile, when the voltage between both ends of the switch SW41 is not greater than 0V in step S612, that is, when it is 0V or in an unmeasurable state, the controller 421 determines that no short circuit occurs between the corresponding battery control unit 42 and the connection device (S614). When it is determined that no short circuit occurs, the controller 421 may transmit a state signal indicating that the connection between the corresponding battery control unit 42 and the connection device 44 is in a normal state to the main controller 43.

[0089] Each battery control unit 42 can detect the occurrence of a short circuit between the corresponding battery control unit 42 and the connection device 44 by executing the above steps S610 to S613. On the other hand, while one battery control unit 42 detects a short circuit through the above steps S610 to S613, the remaining battery control units 42 remain disconnected from the connection device 44 so as not to affect the detection result (i.e., the switches SW41 and SW42 are disconnected).

[0090] Return to reference Fig. 6A When a short circuit between each battery control unit 42 and the connection device 44 is not detected in the above step S61 (S62), in order to detect a short circuit in the battery system 40 (i.e., a short circuit between the connection device 44 and the load 50), the main controller 43 controls the main switches MSW41 and MSW42 to be in a closed state (S63). That is, a control signal indicating switching to a closed state is output to the main switches MSW41 and MSW42.

[0091] In this state, the main controller 43 obtains the actual open / closed state of the main switches MSW41 and MSW42 from the connection device 44 (S64), and based on this, the main controller 43 first determines whether the main switches MSW41 and MSW42 are in a fault state. That is, in a state in which a control signal indicating a switching closed state is output to the main switches MSW41 and MSW42, when the detected actual open / closed state of the main switches MSW41 and MSW42 indicates that the main switch MSW41 or the main switch MSW42 is in an open state (S65), the main controller 43 detects that the main switch MSW41 or the main switch MSW42 is in a fault state (S66). On the other hand, when both the main switches MSW41 and MSW42 are in a closed state (S65), it is determined that both the main switches MSW41 and MSW42 are operating normally, and a process of detecting a short circuit between the connection device 44 and the load 50 is performed.

[0092] That is, the main controller 43 instructs one of the battery control units 42 (for example, Figure 5BThe controller 421 of the battery control unit 42-1 detects the short circuit, and the controller 421 receiving this controls the corresponding switch SW42 to be in a closed state (S67). In this case, the switch SW41 of the corresponding battery control unit 42-1 remains in an open state, and the controller 421 detects the voltage between the two ends of the switch SW41 in the open state (S68).

[0093] When the voltage between both ends of the switch SW41 detected by step S68 is greater than 0V (S69), the controller 421 determines that the system terminals P+ and P- are short-circuited to each other (S70) due to the short circuit between the corresponding connection device 44 and the load 50. Meanwhile, when the voltage between both ends of the switch SW41 is not greater than 0V in step S69, that is, when it is 0V or an unmeasurable state, the controller 421 determines that no short circuit occurs between the connection device 44 and the load 50 (S72).

[0094] When a short circuit is detected between at least one battery control unit 42 and the connection device 44 through the above step S62, when a failure of at least one of the main switches MSW41 and MSW42 is detected in the above step S65, or when a short circuit is detected between the connection device 44 and the load 50 through the above step S69, the main controller 43 determines that normal operation of the battery system 40 is difficult. Therefore, the main controller 43 instructs each controller 421 to release the connection between each battery control unit 42 and the connection device 44 (i.e., disconnect the switches SW41 and SW42), and the main controller 43 blocks the connection between the battery system 40 and the load 50 by disconnecting the main switches MSW41 and MSW42 (S71).

[0095] On the other hand, when a short circuit or failure of the main switches MSW41 and MSW42 is not detected, the main controller 43 instructs each controller 421 to allow the closed state of the switches SW41 and SW42, and allows the connection between the battery system 40 and the load by allowing the closed state of the main switches MSW41 and MSW42 (S73).

[0096] According to the above-described embodiments, before the battery systems 10 and 40 operate as a power source for the loads 20 and 50, a short circuit state caused by misconnection inside or outside the battery systems 10 and 40 can be detected. Therefore, the short circuit state can be detected and appropriate measures can be taken before the components of the battery systems 10 and 40 are damaged due to the short circuit current, thereby preventing damage to the components and the resulting replacement costs, and increasing the life of the battery systems 10 and 40. In addition, this short circuit detection process is automatically performed by the battery systems 10 and 40, so that human errors caused by the administrator's lack of experience can be avoided, and the detection time can be shortened, thereby further improving the safety and efficiency of the system.

[0097] The electronic device or electrical device and / or other related devices or constituent elements according to the embodiments of the present invention can be implemented by using suitable hardware, firmware (e.g., application specific integrated circuit), software or a combination of software, firmware and hardware. For example, the various configurations of the above-mentioned device can be located on an integrated circuit (IC) chip or a separate IC chip. In addition, the various configurations of the above-mentioned device can be implemented on a flexible printed circuit film, a tape carrier package (TCP), a printed circuit board (PCB) or a substrate. The electrical connection or interconnection described in this specification can be implemented, for example, by wiring or conductive elements on a PCB, different types of circuit carriers. The conductive element can, for example, include metallization and / or pins such as surface metallization, and can include conductive polymers or ceramics. In addition, electrical energy can be transmitted by electromagnetic radiation or radio access using light.

[0098] In addition, the various configurations of the device can be executed by at least one processor to perform the various functions described above, they can be executed in at least one computing device, and they can be processes or threads for executing computer program instructions and interacting with other system components. The computer program instructions are stored in a memory that can be implemented using a standard memory device such as a random access memory (RAM) in a computing device. The computer program instructions can also be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium such as a CD-ROM or a flash drive.

[0099] Furthermore, one of ordinary skill in the art must understand that various functions of a computing device may be combined or united into a single computing device, or the functions of a specific computing device may be distributed to at least another computing device without departing from the scope of embodiments of the present invention.

[0100] <Description of symbols>

[0101] 10, 40: Battery system

[0102] 11, 41: Battery module

[0103] 111, 411: Battery cells

[0104] 12: Battery control device

[0105] 121: Controller

[0106] 20, 50: Load

[0107] 42, 42-1: Battery control unit

[0108] 421: Controller

[0109] 43: Main Controller

[0110] 44: Connectors

[0111] F11, F12, F41, F42: Fuse

[0112] SW11, SW12, SW41, SW42: Switches

[0113] MSW41, MSW42: Main switch

[0114] P+, P-: System terminals

[0115] PI, NI: Input terminals of the connection device

[0116] PO, NO: Output terminals of connecting devices

Claims

1. A battery control device, comprising: a first battery control unit connected between the external load and the first battery module and configured to control an electrical connection between the external load and the first battery module; as well as A connecting device is connected between the first battery control unit and the external load, The first battery control unit includes a first switch, a second switch and a first controller, the first switch is electrically connected between the positive terminal of the first battery module and the external load, the second switch is electrically connected between the negative terminal of the first battery module and the external load, and the first controller is configured to control the opening / closing of the first switch and the second switch. The connecting device includes a first main switch and a second main switch, the first main switch is electrically connected between the first switch and a first terminal of the external load, the second main switch is electrically connected between the second switch and a second terminal of the external load, and In which, when the first main switch, the second main switch and the second switch are in a closed state and the first switch is in an open state, the first controller is constructed to detect the voltage between the two ends of the first switch, and detect a short circuit accident between the connecting device and the external load based on the voltage between the two ends of the first switch.

2. The battery control device according to claim 1, wherein: When the first main switch, the second main switch and the first switch are in an open state and the second switch is in a closed state, the first controller is constructed to detect a voltage between the two ends of the first switch, and detect a short circuit accident between the first battery control unit and the connecting device based on the voltage between the two ends of the first switch.

3. The battery control device according to claim 1, further comprising: a second battery control unit connected between the second battery module and the connecting device and configured to control electrical connection between the second battery module and the first main switch and the second main switch, Among them, the second battery control unit includes: a third switch, electrically connected between the positive terminal of the second battery module and the first main switch; a fourth switch, electrically connected between the negative terminal of the second battery module and the second main switch; and a second controller, which is constructed to control the opening / closing of the third switch and the fourth switch.

4. The battery control device according to claim 3, wherein: When the first main switch, the second main switch and the third switch are in an open state and the fourth switch is in a closed state, the second controller is constructed to detect a voltage between the two ends of the third switch, and detect a short circuit accident between the second battery control unit and the connecting device based on the voltage between the two ends of the third switch.

5. The battery control device according to claim 4, wherein: The second controller is configured to control the third switch and the fourth switch to be in an open state when the first controller detects a short circuit accident, and The first controller is configured to control the first switch and the second switch to be in an open state while the second controller detects a short circuit accident.

6. A battery control device, comprising: a connecting device connected between the plurality of battery modules and an external load, and comprising a first main switch electrically connected between the positive terminals of the plurality of battery modules and the external load and a second main switch electrically connected between the negative terminals of the plurality of battery modules and the external load; a plurality of battery control units, respectively connected to the plurality of battery modules and configured to control electrical connections between the plurality of battery modules and the first main switch and the second main switch; as well as a main controller configured to control opening / closing of the first main switch and the second main switch, Among them, one of the plurality of battery control units includes: a first switch connected between the positive terminal of the corresponding battery module and the first main switch; a second switch connected between the negative terminal of the corresponding battery module and the second main switch; and a controller configured to control the opening / closing of the first switch and the second switch, and The controller is configured to detect a voltage between both ends of the first switch when the first main switch, the second main switch and the second switch are in a closed state and the first switch is in an open state, and detect a short circuit accident between the connection device and the external load according to the detected voltage.

7. The battery control device according to claim 6, wherein: The controller is configured to determine that a short circuit accident occurs when the detected voltage is greater than 0V.

8. The battery control device according to claim 6, wherein: The main controller is configured to detect an actual open / closed state of the first main switch and the second main switch in a state in which a control signal indicating switching to a closed state is output to the first main switch and the second main switch, and the main controller is configured to determine that the first main switch or the second main switch is in a fault state when the actual open / closed state of the first main switch or the second main switch is an open state.

9. The battery control device according to claim 8, wherein: The controller is configured to detect a short circuit accident according to a voltage between both ends of the first switch when both the first main switch and the second main switch are in a normal state.

10. The battery control device according to claim 8, wherein: The main controller is configured to open the first main switch and the second main switch when at least one of the first main switch and the second main switch is in a fault state.

11. The battery control device according to claim 8, wherein: The controller is configured to transmit a status signal notifying the occurrence of a short-circuit accident to the main controller when a short-circuit accident is detected, and The main controller is configured to turn off the first main switch and the second main switch upon receiving a status signal notifying that a short circuit has occurred.

12. A short circuit detection method for a battery control device, the short circuit detection method comprising the following steps: Controlling the first main switch and the second main switch to be in a closed state, the first main switch being electrically connected between the positive terminals of the plurality of battery modules and the external load, and the second main switch being electrically connected between the negative terminals of the plurality of battery modules and the external load; In a first battery control unit that controls electrical connection between a first battery module among the plurality of battery modules and a first main switch and a second main switch, controlling a second switch connected between a negative terminal of the first battery module and the second main switch to be in a closed state; In a disconnected state of a first switch connected between a positive terminal of the first battery module and the first main switch, detecting a voltage between both ends of the first switch; as well as A first short circuit accident between the first main switch and the second main switch and the external load is detected according to the detected voltage between both ends of the first switch.

13. The short circuit detection method according to claim 12, further comprising the following steps: After controlling the first main switch and the second main switch to be in a closed state, detecting an actual open / closed state of the first main switch and the second main switch; When the detected actual open / closed state of the first main switch or the second main switch indicates an open state, determining that the first main switch or the second main switch is in a fault state; as well as When the first main switch or the second main switch is in a fault state, the first main switch and the second main switch are controlled to be in an open state.

14. The short circuit detection method according to claim 13, wherein: When the first main switch and the second main switch are in a normal state, the step of detecting a voltage between both ends of the first switch and the step of detecting a first short circuit accident are performed.

15. The short circuit detection method according to claim 12, further comprising the following steps: When a first short circuit accident is detected, controlling the first main switch and the second main switch to be in an open state; as well as The second switch is controlled to be in an off state.

16. The short circuit detection method according to claim 12, further comprising the following steps: Before the step of controlling the first main switch and the second main switch to be in a closed state, keeping the first main switch and the second main switch in an open state; as well as for each of a plurality of battery control units that respectively control electrical connections between the plurality of battery modules and the first main switch and the second main switch, detecting a second short circuit accident between a corresponding battery control unit among the plurality of battery control units and the first main switch and the second main switch, Among them, the step of detecting a second short circuit accident between the corresponding battery control unit and the first main switch and the second main switch includes the following steps: controlling a fourth switch connected between the negative terminal of the corresponding battery module among the multiple battery modules and the second main switch to be in a closed state; in an open state of a third switch connected between the positive terminal of the corresponding battery module and the first main switch, detecting a voltage between both ends of the third switch; and detecting a second short circuit accident between the corresponding battery control unit and the first main switch and the second main switch based on the detected voltage between both ends of the third switch.

17. The short circuit detection method according to claim 16, wherein: When the second short circuit accident is not detected for all of the plurality of battery control units, the step of detecting the voltage between both ends of the first switch and the step of detecting the first short circuit accident are performed.

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